Alfriston

Debbie Greenfield

YOMPING SINCE 1664: 166+4 competitors will be hitting the village this weekend on the final leg of their non stop 36 hour South Downs Way yomp. Money raised will go to Royal Marine charities. Inspiring and totally crazy, that’s 166.4 km give or take a few wrong turns. They will be setting off from Winchester in the early hours of Saturday so please give them a warm welcome to the city of the downs (or coins) as they pass through some time on Sunday….A friend taking part described it as follows ‘It is in the South, It is a Way, though certainly not the most direct. Google Maps suggest it would be better to walk along the A259 reducing it to 83 miles! Most concerning is that it is not just Downs. In fact less than half is Downs with some flats and, most concerning, some serious Ups!’. ….if you are not quite Kings Squad ready this year how about signing up for the Alfriston Fun Run. Basecamp Southdowns are sponsoring and organising the annual fun run for the Alfriston Festival 26th to 29th August. This year there will be a 1.6km children’s race, a 6km adult and family fun run and a more strenuous challenge race - watch this space. Routes, details and signup forms coming soon on the village website and also at Sussex Day. Do you know your downs?

CLERGY HOUSE The Downs Through The Ages: A Half Term family walk on the downs learning about relics and romans and round houses. The National Trust and Clergy House have a lot of family fun planned for the half term week so visit their website.

TEAS & TABLES: 4th June 11am to 3pm, The Sussex Day and Horticultural show organisers will be putting the kettle on and serving up cake to talk about Sussex Day and the fabulous flowers of the village

SUSSEX DAY, CAR BOOT SALE: 11th June. Starts with a Car Boot Sale on the Recreation Ground from 8am. Parking £2 all day. Sussex Day and Labyrinth open on The Tye at 11am (Village open all day). It promises to be a real family day with crafts, stalls & children’s area including castles and storytelling, even vermin control in the form of splat the rat. Scrumptious Sussex Fayre includes meats, chocolates & fruits plus ales from Longman. Find out more about East Sussex Wildlife Restoration, SDNPA, church restoration or Badger Vaccination amongst many others or fancy turning your hand to wood carving with Liz Revell. Local Sussex produce will be available to taste on The Tye and in the village shops, Inns, Tea Rooms and Hotels a Celebration of Sussex. Come join the fun of the fair

EARLY SUMMER SHOW HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: 11th June 1pm to 5pm War Memorial Hall. The decorative arrangements have Shakespeare themes and I cannot wait to see the Men Only arrangements in Beer Mugs entitled Falstaff, a man of good cheer. There will be Sussex and Alfriston scenes, plus the usual fragrant blooms and lovely plants. Maybe even a Mangel Wurzel will be found lurking there.

LABYRINTH FESTIVAL: 11th June 11am. The Festival will open with a few words from Rev Daniel Merceron, you will then be able to ‘Walk the Labyrinth’ and be inspired to attend or sign up for festival talks and workshops the following week. There are so many great artists & writers giving their time to exhibit. Full line up and timings can be found on the village website http://www.alfriston-village.co.uk/#!the-labyrinth-festival/ruidw

BANK HOLIDAY MADNESS & Half Term begins: There is plenty to do in the village.

28th to 30th Alfriston Art Exhibition. War Memorial Hall 10.30 - 5pm

Friday 7.30. Music from the Sofa, musical meanders entertain with a half hour concert at the littlest church ‘Church of the Good Shepherd, Lullington. Take a stroll there. FREE / donations.

Saturday Final Concert 7.30 to 9.00 £10, featuring an expanded band of 17, local choir the Octaves and the bells of St Andrews! It should not be missed. All proceeds to St Andrews Restoration.

Monday 30th 7.00 St Andrews. Die Alten Knaben acapello choir.

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